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BUSINESS & INNOVATION
TOPIC
ATTRACTIVE LABOUR MARKET
Despite the financial and economic crisis, since
The rise in part-time employment likewise typi-
2008 the German labour market has tended
cally reflects trends in the labour market.
ever upwards. In July 2015 42.8 million people
worked in jobs that are subject to mandatory
The low level of youth unemployment has
social insurance contributions. The high em-
drawn the world’s attention to the success of
ployment rate of over 73.5 percent is an expres-
dual vocational training, which differs from
sion of the country’s sound economic situation,
purely school education. In most countries, the
despite little assistance from the global econ-
completion of schooling marks the start of
omy. Germany is one of the EU member states
working life. Having finished school, almost
with the lowest unemployment. In 2014 the
half of young people in Germany, however, em-
unemployment rate was on average 6.7 percent,
bark on a course of training. These are offered
and thus at its lowest level since 1991. In parti-
in one of the 350 state-recognised occupations
cular growth in segments of the services sector
for which accredited vocational training is re-
is impacting positively on the labour market.
quired within the framework of the dual sys-
According to a study by the Institute for Employ-
tem. The young people thus receive practical
ment Research (IAB), Germany is set to increas-
training in their company on three to four
ingly become a service society in coming years.
weekdays, while on the other day(s) they receive
theoretical instruction at a vocational school.
Several countries are currently adapting the
INFO
Career Compass Germany.
Created in 2015, the app provides extensive information in German and English
about opportunities for training, studying and working in Germany. The app is
aimed specifically at young people
abroad and gives them an opportunity to
familiarise themselves in-depth with all
manner of issues. Topics such as corporate culture in German companies as well
as helpful guidance with applications are
included. There are more than 200 links
to associated sites.
→ deutschland.de
system of dual vocational training.
With a view to creating a modern, fair and
transparent labour market, the Federal Government has moreover realised numerous projects
relating to labour-market policy. Since the beginning of 2015, for example, a statutory minimum wage of 8.50 euros has been in place, from
which initially 3.7 million people are benefitting. Moreover, the quota for women is intended to ensure equal numbers of men and women
in top management positions. This means that
from 2016, listed companies and those that are
subject to co-determination regulations must
adhere to a 30-percent quota for women for